Thursday, November 25, 2010

I Won (again)

All of you may remember that I entered a contest by writing a post titled “By the Water Cooler” and I was declared one of the 5 winners. I wrote another post, I Won, announcing that winning. The story did not end here. Many of you may not be aware of further developments. Here it is.

Another blogger, YaadaYaada, claimed that a golu picture shown in one of my previous posts belongs to her. I took that picture from my wife’s golu picture collections. Therefore, I thought it was ours. I then checked with my wife and she said it is not ours. I immediately apologized to YaadaYaada and removed that post. YaadaYaada graciously accepted my apology and said: No Problem. I thought that was the end of the matter.

Ms. Parul Sharma, who organized the “By the Water Cooler” contest, and who is in no way connected with the YaadaYaada blog incident, decided to take it upon herself to punish me and teach me a lesson. In other words, she appointed herself as the Judge, Jury and the Executioner. She wrote a post and announced that she is removing my name as one of the five winners.

Ms. Parul Sharma may have thought that she was doing the right thing. But we also have to think if that is legal or not or acceptable in a civilized society. There are some people in this world think that “honor killing” is the right thing to do. Do we agree with that?

I could not believe what she did. She laid down the contest rules. I complied with all the rules. And then she declared me as a winner. What happened in another post with another blogger is none of her concern. I would have let the whole thing go if she had not insulted my integrity. Not only that. She questioned my sincerity when I apologized to YaadaYaada for an honest mistake.

Then I remembered an idiom made famous by Late Robert Kennedy. “Don’t get mad. Get even.”

I contacted a very capable lawyer in Mumbai. Explained her the whole situation as I saw. She agreed to represent me and sent a legal notice to Ms. Parul Sharma, requiring her to reinstate me as one of the five original winners. And, she got the message. On November 21, Ms. Sharma wrote another post, A very important announcement, declaring me as a winner (again).

Ms. Parul Sharma wrote in her post the following:

“SG, you are hereby reinstated as the winner of my contest. Please let me have your address in the next two days so that the book can be sent to you failing which I will send it to your lawyer”

I wrote a comment that I do not wish to receive her book.

I am sure she is not happy with this episode. But who cares?

I wish Ms. Parul Sharma success in winning The Man Booker Prize. The Booker Prize Foundation, its advisory committee, and the panel of judges will not change the “rules” after they announce the winner.

As Paul Harvey (Radio broadcaster for the ABC Radio Networks) would always say “And now you know…the rest of the story”.

SG,I am back , after a break. I have not read your earlier posts but I could gather that you have WON.Good for you.As I opened your website to read your post "I won", my calling bell rang and I received a packet containing two books 'won' by my son for a quiz conducted by Derek o Brien. shall I say your post proved lucky to me.

I am here to give my opinion again . I had read your earlier post also and was so happy about that you had WON.Never knew there would be a sequel again.

I was really surprised when your name was removed from winning list when you have not violated any rules regarding the contest. There are very few people who don't compromise on their integrity . I am v.happy, I have a friend who maintains high levels of integrity and goals and stands firm in sticking to his stand.

I was travelling SG, had some personal work and was attending social functions.I too missed all my friends.

When I put the title “I Won (again)”, I did not mean victory against the contest organizer. I meant I won the contest and I was declared a winner again.

As I wrote in the post, I would have let it go if she simply removed my name from the winner list and announced it. But she questioned my sincerity. That made me a little angry.

Was involving a lawyer for a blog really worth? It is an individual’s opinion. By organizing a contest, me entering in that contest, and the organizer declaring me a winner means the contest organizer and me have entered into a legal contract. I complied with all the contest rules and removing my name is a breach of contract. Questioning my sincerity amounts to defaming me. Therefore, I had to go to a lawyer.

You want to discuss further, you know my email address.

I have just put in comment moderation. I will allow all differing opinions. But if someone comments to me in “hate language” with indecent/uncivilized words, I do not want that in my post.

this world think that “honor killing” is the right thing to do. Do we agree with that

Let me clarify what few Indians think is not important.Honor killing is illegal in India and our Indian courts have punished such criminals , head of Khaps also this is one of reason they are angree and afraid .

Please keep in mind her key objective. She may or may not care about bloggers like us. Don't you think 'contest' is really to promote her book? Of course we readers like to encourage writers and play this game. This reversing the decision may be another of those gimmicks...who knows..I look at all these thing with grain of salt. (as you can see from posts).

I would strong suggest not to spend your energy and creativity on this. Last message from me on this subject. Bye :)

I can certainly see where your frustration came from: not from losing the prize but from having your honour insulted. Although had it been me, I would likely have contented myself with writing a very nasty blog post about the woman. Still, to each his own!

I'm sorry about all these developments and that you had to go to a lawyer to set matters right.

I guess many bloggers take images from the internet - and no one bothers. But in your case it had to happen like that.

The thing to do is to write below the image "See Image Source" and link it to the original page. Most people don't mind this because it actually places their website's link on this blog and gives them advertisement. But of course, in your case you didn't know it was from another site.

You know I made the unfortunate mistake of visiting Parul Sharma’s blog.All I have to say is – yawn.Her blog is more boring than listening to a 15 minute speech on pencil erasers.

I saw where she shivers and said that you are the winner again.She shivers like it’s a joke…but in the end if she didn’t take you seriously she wouldn’t have posted it so she can shiver all she wants.Pa-RULE Changer Sharma made a HUGE mistake thinking that people who blog are just nameless, faceless people sitting behind a keyboard.Parul Shivers got served legally and the long arm of SG is dangerous if he can get to you in REAL LIFE and not just in the BLOG world.A dangerous person you are - one not to be trifled with.

Oh by the way – when I posted on her blog…she deleted my posts and called me a troll.Thanks for nothing.Hmmm, I wonder what the Booker Award committee will think when they hear that Parul Shivers Sharma is surrounded by controversy and has a dark legal cloud over her head. She brought this upon herself. Just another self centered, egotistical, idiot.

And if you think that she is bad…the imbecile cronies on her blog are even worse.

Thanks for your comments The Cagey Bee. Where have you been? I was thinking you would be the first one to comment here.

Thanks for your unwavering support. Want to point out a small correction. I am not a dangerous person. I am a nice person. Sometimes, I am naïve also. You are not a troll. This kind of name calling is usually made by those who do not want to listen to anyone who has a different opinion.

Thanks for your comments Anonymous. Me and my readers are jokers? Sure, we are. I write a post about people like you and my readers comment on that because you are a joke all by yourself. Honestly? You and your ilk could not recognize “honest” if it knocks on your door.